San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-10

of its press to the prohibitory movement.
State, county and municipal prohibition has
so far been varyingly successful in accord.
anoe with the strength or weakness of local
sentiment
In many localities prohibition has COM
pletely destroyed the saloon and all illegiti-
mate traffic in liquor. In some communi.
ties II has largely restrained, aud in others
II has failed completely. As a rule, State,
county aud municipal governments are
weak, incapable, inefficient and corrupt.
Prohibition states cannot prevent the secret
introduction of liquors from non-prohibi
tion states.
In those counties which have honest Off
cials and healthy public sentiment, the
law is moro or less efectually enforced,
while in others not so fortunate 1t remains
imperative. Local police regulations are
often crude md loosely administered. and
often prosecutions for violations OF the law
are neglected.
A liauor-drinking community il very apt
to have liquor drinking officials, who will
violate their oaths, and, in defiance of their
sacred duty, protect the liquor traffic to re-
tain the support of their constituents.
The confined drnker can obtain liquor
from tho drug store, through lie on his
part, and violation of the law on the part
of the druggist. Still, whenever the sale of
LIQUOR is confined to tho drug store, the
cause of temperance is great gainer. The
drug store is not a tempter. Every saloon
forced out of the way puts peace and plen-
ty in the place of strife and want.
"How can prohibition be made most cf'
fectual?" is tho question, not the silly catch
phrase, "does prohibition prohibit?"
The necessity for prohibition and the
difficulties surrounding it have produced
the National Prohibition party, which has
now grown to such proportions as to CON-
mand the balance of power in q dozen
states. What are its declarations and mr.
guments2 1t declares first that the liquor
traffic affiicts society with such frightful
moral evils and financial burdens, that 1t
must he destroyed.
That unless it is destroyed society can
make no progress in happiness. 1t declares
Prohibition by government to be the SUI
preme political measure. 1t declares that
while grand results are being accomplished
bv state, county and municipal prohibition,
these can only attain partial success, and
that National prohibition alone can entirely
prohibit the liquor-traflic. 1t declares for
full support to state and local prohibition,
au6 further for amendment to the National
Constitution, prohibiting oil traffic in IL
quors as beverages, and putting control OF
il in the hands of the General Government
1t shows that moral suasion, high license
and prohibition of one class OF liquors
while others are sold, to be failures, ana
that the only remedy for the evils of in
temperance, the only method ny which tho
liquor-traf1ic can be destroyed is total do
struction of root and branch, total prohlbi-
ton of all liquors. 1t shows that both tho
old parties support the liquor-tratho by
their official utterances, and their practices,
and that the only hope, therefore, for the
success of prohibition, is in the success OF
the third party. Now have given my ad.
hesion to this party, and will offer some OF
my reasons for having done so. Whlle
prefer government prohibition only 30 far
as to destroy the saloon and all trade in dis
titled liquors, holding that the use OF wine
and beer is righteous, and that the govern
ment should merely protect us against the
adulteration and poisoning of them, and
put them beyond the reach of the classes
that would abuse them by taxing them as
luxuries; still yield this point, because
conceive it to be necessary for the general
welfare to do so.
The leaders of the Prohibition party
mako the valid arguments that the party has
been formed by, and is now composed
mostly of, voters who will accept nothing
short of prohibition of all liquors, and that
distilled liquors can hardly be prohibited
successfully if the sale of wine and beer is
permitted, rs they will be but cloaks or DIS
guises for the former. They argue that to
destroy one class of liquors all must go.
Certainly would do nothing that might
imperil the success of the movement against
saloons and distilled liquors. and say that
will vote to destroy all liquors to make
the destruction of those features OF the IL
auor- traffic certain. The surrender OF this
point involves no surrender OF principle.
il is upon the same basis that many Christ
inns who could drink wine with clear
conscience, abstain from its use, to set
good example in this age OF intemperance
and abuse of Gods gifts, thus denying
themselves for the glory of the Master and
the good of His creatures. AS to the sue
cess of total prohibition OF oil liquors by
National Legislation and police regulation
tn SO leaders affirm there can be no ques-
tion. They believe that they can, upon this
basis. create sentiment which will give
the party control Of all branches of the
government, and enable them TO carry ont
all necessary legislation and administrative
measures. They point to the remarkable
growth and SUCCESS of the party thus far rs
nm aupury of future triumph. They point
10 the wonderful results already achieved in
nrobibition communities. In Kansas the
state and county officials report the practi-
cal destruction of the saloon, and large
reduction in the consumption Of liquor, and
In crime. They express confidence in the
early destruction of the entire traffic, But
the National party Is based on the correct
assumption that the National Government
alone can destroy the liquor-traffic entirely.
State prohibition eau only restrain aud can
not entirely prohibit, for obyious reasons.
There must he q law covering the entire
country. and local administrators of IL must
be independent of the liquor interest and
Of local politics.
A National law restricting the sale of all
liquors 30 scientific and art purposes, and
tl the sick. would at once wipe out tho sa-
loon. aud the abuse Of the traffic for neces-
sary purposes could be prevented by limit.
ing the prDdnction AMI profits OF manuiac-
turers aud dealers. and taxing heavily, 10
prevent iliegitimate consumption. SUPER
yisors IN each county could prosecute in
frinpneuts Of the Law. and could return
amount Of tax TO legitimats buyers, upon
prof Of actual legitimate use, by vouchers
upon the government
Bat whatever practical diHisuities there
nj ,ht be in carrying out effective police
restrictions. ve know they can be overcome.
Where there is a Will there y a way. AMI
this will the National party proposes 10
orsai4. II prOp1sas through the rosirum
and press 10 create unity among All prohi-
biti5nists ~ - arms and methods IL
rightly declares that IN The fane Of such a
n.sIigant and powerful enemy there ca1 be
no daIlving uith hating men or measures